Book Review of Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree THERE!
The Children’s Book Review
Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree THERE!
Written by Andrea Koehle Jones
Illustrated by Erin Mercer
Ages: 3–7 | 48 Pages
Publisher: DC Canada Education Publishing (2026) | ISBN: 978-1834140926
What to Expect: Dogs, Humor, Tree Planting, Teamwork, Environmental Stewardship, and Interactive Storytelling.
A wildly enthusiastic puppy with big tree-planting dreams learns that helping the planet requires the right spot, a good plan, and a little help from his friends.
In Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree There!, readers meet Ned, an energetic dog whose love for digging inspires him to become a tree-planting superhero. Driven by “tree planting zoomies” and an eagerness to help the world, Ned sets off across the tree farm ready to diggity-dig holes everywhere. However, his overzealous digging leads to hilarious misadventures as he tries planting seedlings in the most absurd locations—including mailboxes, on top of a bear, in the middle of a bike path, and even inside a race car. With a friendly guide and readers cheering him on, Ned must figure out how to direct his boundless energy toward a spot where a tree can truly thrive.
Author Andrea Koehle Jones delivers a vibrant, fast-paced narrative filled with playful sound effects, rhythmic chants, and interactive fourth-wall breaks. Making it an absolute joy for read-aloud sessions is her slapstick humor balanced with a gentle lesson on teamwork, patience, and environmental care. And the practical back matter—such as a real-world tree-planting checklist, safety tips, and a certificate—adds meaningful educational value.
Colorful, expressive illustrations by Erin Mercer match the story’s chaotic, high-energy spirit—each page is packed with comedic details that capture Ned’s hilarious expressions and the exaggerated reactions of the surrounding wildlife. There’s also a delightful hidden-seedling search that runs throughout the book, offering a rich visual scavenger hunt that rewards repeated readings.
A heartwarming, laugh-out-loud picture book that seamlessly weaves environmental stewardship into a playful adventure, Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree There! is a great choice for kids who love interactive stories (and parents or educators looking for a fun way to introduce kids to nature and teamwork).
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About the Author
Andrea Koehle Jones is a Canadian children’s book author, journalist, and award-winning environmental education advocate. She is the writer of The Wish Trees (2021) and Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree THERE! (2026), stories that inspire kids to connect with nature.
Her work spans print, digital, and television, including CBC and CBC Kids, and she has contributed to major environmental campaigns such as the effort to protect the Great Bear Rainforest.
Andrea is the founder of Canada’s ChariTree Foundation, a United Nations Climate Observer, and an advisor to the UNICEF Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education.
Also a songwriter and SOCAN member—listen to her latest single, Lost Beneath the Trees, on Amazon Music.
She lives on a tree-topped island off the coast of Vancouver, where the natural world inspires her writing.
